The Forgotten Aspect of Employee Productivity

In recent posts, I wrote about remote work and how it affects employee productivity.  This relates to a broader aspect of employee productivity – health and well-being.  It’s amazing how many managers I know recognize work/life issues and strive to balance this for their employees. Yet, they forget about themselves.  Today, we get down to earth about stress in the workplace and realistic improvements to make for the long term.

There is good reason for today’s workers to be stressed:

• For many workers, these are stressful times.  The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that globally an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year due to depression and anxiety (approximate cost of $1 trillion per year in lost productivity).
• Current trend of return-to-work policies have stressed families who are now dealing with care arrangements for relatives, pets, and children, with commuting headaches on top of that.
• Reductions in workforce create stressful environments for those in transition, yet can be just as stressful for those who made it past cuts only to find they have more work added to their already busy schedules.

And it’s well documented that workers who are stressed:

• Are less productive, are absent more, and overall job performance is lower.
• Are less healthy with long working hours leading to less exercise and fewer mental breaks.
• Often become disconnected after work, compounding the problems above.

Experts have a simple solution to fix this problem.  All you have to do is work less, eat better, exercise more, and incorporate activities to reduce stress in your life.  Right!  If it was that easy to do these things, who would be stressed?  I want to share some practical steps to take that are manageable to implement and will still make a positive difference in the fight against stress:

• Sleep – getting rest is a major factor in reducing stress and, while it may be impossible to get more sleep for some, here are practical ways to increase the quality of rest.
  • Work to consistently go to bed and wake up at the same times. This schedule puts less stress on the body.
  • Turn off the TV and put the phone in another room.  These electronics generally make it harder to fall asleep.  Reading or meditating is a better alternative before bed.
  • Do what you can to make your room “sleep worthy” – close curtains/shades, reduce noise, and make sure your comfortable.
• Fuel your Body – It’s so hard to eat right when you’re on the run but there are ways to reduce the amount of unhealthy foods.
  • If possible, prepare multiple meals for the week in advance to reduce the urge to eat something quickly (usually leads to unhealthy choices).
  • Pack your lunch and/or make sure there are healthy snacks available.  Make a conscious effort to make healthy food choices more often than unhealthy ones.
  • Drink lots of water.  Simple to do and good for you!  Reduce the sugars in any other drinks you consume during the day.
• Keep Moving – It can be impossible to exercise regularly on a busy schedule. Look to sneak exercise sessions into your day.
  • Take a walk during lunch.  If a meeting ends early, take a short walk around the office.  Every step adds up!
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
  • Park in the back of the lot to add a few more steps to your day.
• Manage Stress – I know it’s easier said than done but there may be things you can do to make even a little difference in managing stress levels.
  • Research stress-reducing activities and choose one that works for you.   Breathing exercises or meditation can be quick activities to work into your schedule yet provide great health benefits.
  • Sometimes people can bring stress on all by themselves.  Don’t feel bad saying no or having a discussion with your manager if workloads get too heavy.  I have had experiences where the manager had no idea employees had too much on their plate until it was brought to their attention (I was the manager ☹). 

I’m no expert on stress but I do know that when I’ve been in stressful situations and tried to make too big of a change, I have drifted right back to where I started.  Hopefully, I’ve listed a few small things to incorporate into your daily schedule to make your work life (and after work too!) more productive and stress-free.

For more information on this topic, your company may offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or your human resources department can provide guidance on resources available to you.  Also, read Jesse Stanchak’s article for SHRM Executive Network, “Worker Mental Health Challenges Put Productivity at Risk – and HR Professionals Are No Exception”.

Do you have a topic you would like me to research and post? Need more information on ES Talent Solutions? Contact Eddie at estewart@estalentsolutions.com.